Flower packaging



July 5, 1966 N. B. COLE 3,259,236

FLOWER PACKAGING Filed Aug. 17, 1965 MZaMQ/ ZZZ United States Patent 3,259,236 FLOWER PACKAGING Nathaniel B. Cole, 100 Clive St., Metuchen, NJ. Filed Aug. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 480,279 3 Claims. (Cl. 206--79) This invention relates to packaging and more particularly to a flower holder which maintains the flower in a suspended condition, thus protecting it as during shipping and further serving as a display.

In carrying or shipping a delicate flower such as an orchid, it is obviously desirable to protect it against damage. It is also desirable to permit the flower to be viewed while it is suspended firmly within the package and at an attractive angle for viewing.

The above and other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following descriptions and drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank from which the flower package is made;

FIGURE 2 is a side view with the blank outer panels brought together to form the supporting pyramid;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the completed package, including the transparent protective cover.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the blank is formed of a sturdy paperboard or boxboard material of about .050". It is formed with a large outer panel 11 and a smaller outer panel 12. On the inner corners of panel 11 are formed fingers 13 and 14 respectively, said fingers being slit centrally for half their length so as to terminate in two prongs 13a and 13b, and 14a and 14b respectively. The inner edge of panel 11 is defined by a scored line 15 running between fingers 13 and 14 where they are connected to panel 11.

Smaller outer panel 12 is formed at its inner corners with fingers 16 and 17 likewise slit into two prongs each and facing fingers 13 and 14. Scored line 18 defines the inner edge of panel 12.

Disposed between outer panels 11 and 12, are inner panels 19 and 20 which are of the same length as score lines 15 and 18 and are further defined from each other by a third score line 21 which is parallel to the other score lines 15 and 18.

Approximately centrally of the length of inner panel 19 is formed hole 25 which is shaped somewhat like a keyhole, extending upwardly from line 18 and having its rounded outer portion 25a extending about /3 the width of panel 19 so that it is spaced from line 21.

Likewise, approximately centrally of the length of inner panel 20 which is connected to panel 19, is hole 26 which is formed within panel 20 so as to be spaced from both lines 15 and 21. However, its spacing from line 21 is less than the corresponding spacing therefrom of hole portion 25a. As will be shown hereinafter, this will elevate hole 26 relative to hole portion 25a so as to clamp the flower stern as will be explained hereinafter.

The package is first formed by bringing the outer panels 11 and 12 together as indicated by arrows 30 and 31. The respective, opposing prongs of fingers 13 and 16 will interlock, while those of fingers 14 and 17 will also interlock. This will form transverse, elongated, triangular pyramid 32 extending between the fingers. At the same time, hole 26 will be elevated as will hole portion 25a, although hole 26 will be at a higher level.

A flower 35 is supported by the package, the flower comprising the leaf or petal portion 36, and the stem portion 37. As is customary in the flower industry, stem portion is provided with a tubular capsule 38 which receives the stem so as to firmly support the flower. As is customary, capsule 38 comprises a vial in the form of a test tube or the like, usually filled with water, and capped by a rubber seal having a hole through which the stem is inserted. Capsule 38 is about the diameter of hole 25 and hole portion 25a so that it may be pushed therethrough. The higher level of hole 26 relative to hole portion 25a serves at least two purposes. Thus it causes capsule 38 to be grasped firmly because of the vertically .ofiset relationship of the holes relative to each other, and

it further causes the petal portion 36 to be elevated relative to the stern portion. Thus the flower is supported firmly and held at an attractive angle for viewing.

Finally a firm bubble 40 of transparent plastic film and having a surrounding flange 41 may be connected by staples 42 around the edges of the panels. The finished package will tolerate considerable pressure and will protect the flower during transportation and the like.

Purely as an example, panel 11 may be about 5 x 7 inches, panels 19 and 20 may be about 1 x 5% inches, and panel 12 may be about 1 /2 x 7". The diameter of hole 26 and hole portion 25a was about /2".

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is obvious that numerous changes may be made without departing from its spirit.

What is claimed is:

1. A blank for forming a flower holder package, said blank being substantially rectangular and comprising two outer panels and two inner panels, all of said panels being separated from each other by score lines, said two inner panels being adapted to form a transverse, elongated pyramid between said two outer panels when said two outer panels are brought inwardly toward each other, and said inner panels being formed with holes which communicate with each other when said pyramid is formed so as to support a flower with the stem thereof extending through said holes.

2. A blank according to claim 1 and including fingers formed at the inner corners of said outer panels, said fingers being formed so as to interlock with opposite fingers to maintain said two inner panels in their pyramid formation, said fingers being longitudinally slit so as to slidingly interlock with an opposite finger by inter-engagement of slits.

3. A blank according to claim 2 and wherein the front one of said two outer panels is smaller than the rear one, the hole on said inner panel which is closer to said front outer panel being higher than the hole on said inner panel which is closer to said rear outer panel, whereby when said pyramid is formed the front hole will be higher than the rear hole and an elongated flower holder inserted therethrough will have its rear end resting against said larger rear panel and its front end elevated over said smaller front panel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,176,786 3/1916 Stranders 206-79 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,080,546 6/ 1954 France.

1,089,614 10/1954 France.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

I. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A BLANK FOR FORMING A FLOWER HOLDER PACKAGE, SAID BLANK BEING SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR AND COMPRISING TWO OUTER PANELS AND TWO INNER PANELS, ALL OF SAID PANELS BEING SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER BY SCORE LINES, SAID TWO INNER PANELS BEING ADAPTED TO FORM A TRANSVERSE, ELONGATED PYRAMID BETWEEN SAID TWO OUTER PANELS WHEN SAID TWO OUTER PANELS ARE BROUGHT INWARDLY TOWARD EACH OTHER, AND SAID INNER PANELS BEING FORMED WITH HOLES WITH COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER WHEN SAID PYRAMID IS FORMED SO AS TO SUPPORT A FLOWER WITH THE STEM THEREOF EXTENDING THROUGH SAID HOLES. 